Women in Business give back to campus and community

Women in Business President Deirdre Smith, far right, stands with fellow members Cabrittany Price, left, Amy Stramich, center, and Alex Garrett, right, at the Homecoming activities fair to raise awareness about their student organization.

November 16, 2012

By Kelsey Budd ’14

Deidre Smith, president of the student organization Women in Business, added anotherjewel to the organization’s crown this past month—Homecoming Queen.

Smith, a senior studying food nutrition, was crowned Bradley’s 2012 HomecomingQueen and used the competition to raise the group’s profile on campus and in thecommunity.

Bradley’s Women in Business student group works with women from across campus onbuilding resumes, networking, preparing for job interviews and learning basic skills forthe business world.

The organization was involved in every homecoming activity throughout the week inattempt to inform students about what they offer. Smith said her victory came aboutthanks to the work of other members in the organization that helped her raise more than$400 during the weeklong celebration.

“It is very important for me to show school spirit and I wanted to get our name out there.My board helped me raise all the money, so it wasn’t just me by myself,” Smith said.

Women in Business hosted a bake sale to raise money to donate to Dress for Success, alocal organization that helps women in need learn job skills and prepare for interviews.

Smith said it is important for student organizations to get involved in the community aswell as on campus. After learning about Dress for Success, she said the group wanted tohelp provide local women with opportunities they might not otherwise have.

“Some of their goals met up with our goals,” Smith said, “so that’s why I thought itwould be a great charity to donate to.”

The homecoming success for Women in Business was just one example of the manyways the organization has marketed itself and grown. Aside from an increase inmembership, Smith also redesigned the organization’s mission statement, making it moreprofessional and relevant to what the organization stands for today.

Smith said she hopes to keep making students aware of the opportunities with Women inBusiness and continue relaying the importance of what they do.

“Everything is a business when you graduate and these are important skills you need,”she said. “It’s definitely made me think outside the box and made me realize women canbe very influential in the business world.”